Box Score WATERLOO, ON – After falling short to Waterloo earlier this month, the Mustangs successfully redeemed themselves in an exciting 3-1 victory against the Warriors on Sunday, November 17 at 12:00.
 
The Mustangs got off to a rough start this set as it quickly became clear that Waterloo's blockers had come to play. While Western did a respectable job standing their ground for the first few points of the afternoon, the Warriors eventually began to pull away with 5-9. Waterloo was needlessly overexaggerating their power, allowing Western multiple points off of out-of-bounds calls. The score paused at 12-16 as both teams formed their huddles for the first set's technical timeout. Both teams were suffering an unusual number of service errors, likely having trouble switching their focus from the fast gameplay to the composure needed for a successful serve. After Western's head coach Melissa Bartlett called her first timeout of the afternoon, the Mustangs began to pick up their pace, but couldn't manage to catch up to Waterloo as they continued their four-point lead with 16-20. Coach Bartlett signalled for her second and last timeout of the first set shortly after that, no doubt trying to reign her players in for a possible comeback as the end of the first set closed in. After consecutive service errors from both teams, possession returned to Waterloo – a huge advantage so late in the set. An unfortunate double-touch violation from Western's Melissa Langegger practically handed the Warriors the setpoint they needed as the first set wrapped up with 22-25.
 
Returning to the court after their previous set loss, Western was looking for revenge; they managed to pull away from their opposition soon after the second set began with 7-4. After two consecutive service aces from Western's Kate Ferguson, Waterloo was lucky to catch a break after her third serve fell short. Western pulled away with the largest point deficit of the afternoon so far, continuing to increase their distance from the Warriors as the scoreboard showed 15-6. The second set's technical timeout was taken as Western reached the sixteen-point checkpoint. As usual, the Mustangs worked to recognize and correct their mistakes from the previous set with a noticeable increase in their defensive efforts. The outcome of the second set hung in the balance as Western honed in on snagging the setpoint. Western's Ferguson granted her team their last needed kill as they wrapped this one up with an impressive end score of 25-10.
 
The third set started off with a Waterloo service error as Western helped themselves to possession of the ball. The Warriors' impenetrable defense from the first set was nowhere to be seen this time around as the Mustangs landed kill after kill, the score resting at 9-6. Waterloo continued to rely too heavily on possible out-of-bounds calls, giving away a number of points before Western finally committed the service error that the opposition had been hoping for. The Mustangs appeared to be experimenting with the implementation of a new strategy, but it didn't seem to be working to their advantage as numerous backrow attacks failed to clear the net.  The Warriors managed a very brief one-point lead, but there was no way Western was going to let them hold onto it, quickly flipping the scoreboard once again to show 16-13. Two timeouts were called almost consecutively, the first by Waterloo's head coach Richard Eddy and the second by Western's Coach Bartlett as the end of the third set began to close in. Waterloo managed to stand their ground, matching and surpassing the Mustangs with 20-21. The Mustangs' Coach Bartlett went on to make a number of player substitutions, attempting to find the right combination of players to hopefully finish up the third set with a victory. Western's Jessica Lam stepped up to execute a number of successful serves before possession was returned to the opposition with just one point needed for the Mustangs to claim this one. Western's Kristina Curcin stepped up to snag the match point, leading her team to a set victory of 25-22.
 
The fourth set began with some excitement as Western's Kate Van Camp sprinted to the edge of the gym in an admirable, but failed, attempt to save a rogue ball. Both teams were rapidly accelerating in score, but the Mustangs finally managed to break the tie and overcome Waterloo as the score rose to 10-7. The Warriors continued to present just one blocker to defend against Western's attacks, resulting in a number of easily avoidable kills for the Mustangs. Clearly frustrated, Waterloo's Coach Eddy called the first timeout of the set, likely hoping to encourage his players to turn things around before it was too late. The teams met in a 14-14 tie just after coming out of another timeout, this one called by Western's Coach Bartlett. The Mustangs were practically handed a lead after three consecutive Waterloo errors, a series of events that had the potential to be detrimental for the Warriors so late in the set. After a Waterloo service error and an exhaustive rally, the Mustangs sealed the fourth set with 25-20, claiming this afternoon's game in a 3-1 victory.
 
After four consecutive away games, the Western women will return to London to face off against York University at Alumni Hall on Friday, November 22 at 6:00PM. If you can't make it out, catch the action live here.